:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63027403/usa_today_12121023.0.jpg)
The Revenge Tour has not been exclusive to just Michigan football.
Early in basketball’s 17-0 start, the Wolverines enacted revenge over Villanova and North Carolina — two losses from 2017-18. After the 64-54 loss at Wisconsin three weeks ago, the first loss of the season, the vengeance mantra is reborn.
Michigan hosts a nineteenth-ranked Badgers outfit that’s ripped off six straight wins. That run started with the upset over the Wolverines, and that was fueled by Ethan Happ.
The senior center averages a double-double with 18.3 points and 10.4 rebounds a game. He also dishes over five assists a contest. He dominated the first matchup against Jon Teske, racking up 26 points (12-of-22 from the field), 10 boards and seven dimes.
He’s complemented by guards D’Mitrick Trice and Brad Davison. The pair are the only other Badgers to average double figures (13.4 and 11.2 points, respectively). Both also shoot over 44 percent from behind the arc.
Davison is also a totally upright citizen who won’t try to horribly injure players or take cheap charges.
Disappointing to see the Minnesota player stomp on Brad Davison’s foot here. No place in the game for that. pic.twitter.com/h43DSSJaDE
— Erik Buchinger (@ImErikBuchinger) February 7, 2019
Michigan’s top-ranked efficiency defense has to account for sharpshooters in guard Kobe King and forward Nate Reuvers. The latter is a 6-foot-11 sophomore tallied nine points in the upset, and makes just under 40 percent of his treys.
The Badgers bring the nation’s sixth-best defense into Ann Arbor, and haven’t allowed over a point per possession during the recent win streak. They don’t force a lot of turnovers, opting to suffocate shooters (No. 11 nationally in effective field goal percentage allowed).
Michigan counters with an offense trying to fully find its footing again. Overall, it ranks No. 34 per Ken Pomeroy, and just reached 1.17 points per possession at a solid Rutgers defense. Before that, the Wolverines went through a well-publicized slump.
That drought started in Madison, as Michigan mustered just .82 points per possession, turned it over 16 times and shot just 5-of-18 from three.
The whole team, including the offense, exploded in the two revenge games against Villanova and North Carolina. Will they rebound in today’s top-25 tilt against the Badgers?
How To Watch:
Teams: No. 7 Michigan Wolverines (21-2) vs. No. 19 Wisconsin Badgers (17-6)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 9
Location: Crisler Center — Ann Arbor, Mich.
Tipoff: 12 p.m.
Television: FOX (FoxSportsGo Link Here)